TAUNTON — The principal of the year-old Taunton Alternative High School says the endeavor so far has been a glowing and gratifying success.

Robert “Bert” Delaney said he expects between 40 and 45 students among a student body of 100 to graduate in late spring. The school’s first graduating class received diplomas in June 2013.

“I look forward to June 1,” said Delaney, who before taking over the job as principal at TAHS was assistant principal at Foxboro High School.

Delaney, 46, made an appearance at this week’s Taunton School Committee meeting to present an overview of the past year.

The alternative school — which caters to at-risk students who have had difficulty succeeding in a traditional high school setting — opened in February 2013 in the first two floors of the former Cohannet School, which more recently had served as an interim trial court facility.

Delaney said a key element of the school’s success is an atmosphere and environment that encourages “personalization” between students and faculty.

“It’s a safe, inviting environment, and we know every kid’s first name,” Delaney said. “If they feel as though you care, then they’ll come to you.”

Delaney said students have come to trust him and his staff, in part because of the effort to communicate one-on-one with parents or guardians.

He said the feedback of students — many of whom can’t depend on a stable family environment and some of whom, themselves, are mothers or fathers with full- or part-time jobs — has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Come into our school. There’s no graffiti because they know this is theirs,” he said.

“You’ve made some remarkable progress,” said committee member Carol Doherty, who asked if there were long-term plans for “extracurricular” classes.

Delaney said he looks forward to eventually offering classes for graphic design and “a significant art program.”

He said the trimester schedule, splitting the academic year into three segments, has been especially effective. Students who miss or are unable to attend a class or classes in one trimester are given the chance to make up for it in a subsequent trimester, he said.